4 syllables: di, vi, si, ble. Stress on vi.
/dɪˈvɪ.zə.bəl/
Say it backDivisible describes something that can be divided evenly by a given number without leaving a remainder. In mathematics, it often refers to integers that are multiples of another number, but the term can also apply to any quantity that can be partitioned into equal parts. It implies a precise, rule-governed divisibility relationship.
"The number 12 is divisible by 3 and 4."
"In modular arithmetic, we say 25 is divisible by 5."
"A pizza cut into equal slices is divisible among the guests."
You pronounce it di-VIZ-uh-buhl, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /dɪˈvɪz.ə.bəl/, UK /dɪˈvɪz.ɪ.bəl/, AU /dɪˈvɪz.ɪ.bəl/. Start with a light, quick 'di' then a crisp 'VIZ' syllable, followed by a soft 'uh' and a clear final 'bəl'. Note the unstressed -ble ending sounds like 'bəl'.
Common errors: turning the second syllable into a long 'viz' or misplacing stress (di-VIH-zuh-buhl). Another frequent mistake is pronouncing the final -ble as a hard ‘ble’ instead of a softened ‘bəl’. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable, use a short, crisp 'viz' and reduce the final consonant cluster to /bəl/ rather than /bəlz/ or /bɫ/.
US tends to clear /dɪˈvɪz.ə.bəl/ with rhoticity influencing the preceding vowel quality slightly. UK typically /dɪˈvɪz.ɪ.bəl/ with non-rhoticity, a shorter schwa in the second syllable, and a crisper /z/. AU mirrors US shifts but may exhibit a flatter intonation and stronger vowel reduction in fast speech. The main difference is vowel quality and rhoticity, not the basic stress pattern.
The difficulty lies in the sequence di- plus the consonant cluster -vz- and the unstressed -ble ending. The second syllable houses /ˈvɪz/ with a fast, palatalized onset, followed by a reduced /ə/ or /ɪ/ in the third syllable and a soft, light /bəl/ finale. Coordinating tongue tip and blade in quick succession while maintaining accurate /z/ and /b/ without voicing bleed can trip non-native speakers.
Yes. The -isible ending contains /ˌɪz.ə/ in most accents rather than the more typical -ible /-ɪ.bəl/. The /v/ onset in the stressed syllable is also a point of precision: ensure voicing is clear but not overly aspirated. Additionally, the combination of /d/ + /ɪ/ at the start can be mistakenly lenited in fast speech, so maintain a crisp /d/ to prevent a slurred onset.
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US: rhotic, vowel quality tends to be broader; UK: non-rhotic tendency; AU: similar to US but with slightly flatter vowels and more placeholders for /ɪ/. For vowel contrast, ɪˈvɪz.ə.bəl/ (US) vs /dɪˈvɪz.ɪ.bəl/ (UK) show subtle /i/ vs /ɪ/ drift. The /z/ remains voiced across accents; ensure clear frication without excessive sibilance. In stressed syllable, keep /ɪ/ compact; the trailing /ə/ often reduces. Practice with IPA reference: US /dɪˈvɪz.ə.bəl/, UK /dɪˈvɪz.ɪ.bəl/, AU /dɪˈvɪz.ɪ.bəl/.
Divisible comes from the Latin divisibilis, from dividere ‘to divide’ + -ibilis ‘able to be’. The term entered English through Latin during the Late Middle Ages, reflecting mathematical discourse. Divisible ultimately traces to the root divid- meaning ‘to divide’ with the participial suffix -ibilis indicating capability. The word’s core sense—able to be divided evenly—appears in works on arithmetic and geometry as scholastic Latin and later in English mathematical treatises. Early uses aligned with the observation that a number is divisible by another if a whole number multiplier exists; this condition became formalized in number theory. Over time, divisible broadened to describe quantities that can be partitioned into equal parts in broader contexts, and the concept remains foundational in divisibility tests, modular arithmetic, and fractions. First known English attestations surface in scientific and mathematical texts of the 16th–17th centuries, mirroring Latin scholarly influence and the rise of standardized arithmetic language in Europe.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "divisible" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "divisible"
-ble sounds
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